Liquid delivery valve construction

ABSTRACT

A special valve construction is provided for delivering or discharging measured amounts of liquid wherein the valve requires only two operating channels and positions as contrasted with three in prior devices. A slidable valve fits in a body receivable in a pressurized bottle containing liquid to be dispensed. Discontinuous axial bore are formed in the slide valve each connecting with a transverse channel longitudinally spaced from each other and a lateral channel above the upper transverse channel connects to outlets for discharge. Axial movement of the slide valve in the body is mechanically limited and suitable packing rings are disposed where the slide valve and body meet. An elastic diaphragm fits over a convex support forming part of a bell-shaped member having a chamber which determines the amount of liquid discharged. Downward pressure on the bell-shaped member operates the valve and release of pressure closes the valve.

United States Patent 1 1 1 3,858,771 Bret et al. 1 Jan. 7, 1975 LIQUIDDELIVERY VALVE 3,201,0sr 8/1965 CONSTRUCTION 3,231,150 1/1966 3,360,16812/1967 [75] Inventors: Pierre Bret, Meudon-la-Foret;

Catherme Suck Mommuge both of Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves FranceAssistant ExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky [73] Assignee: Societe Lablabo,Montrouge (Hauts de Seine), France [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Apr. 24,1972 A special valve construction is provided for delivering D ordischarging measured amounts of liquid wherein [2]] Appl 246678 thevalve requires only two operating channels and po- Related US.Application D ta sitions as contrasted. with three in prior devices. A[63] Continuation of 852 698 Aug 25 969 slidable valve fits in a bodyreceivable in a pressurized abandoned bottle containing liquid to bedispensed. Discontinuous axial bore are formed in the slide valve eachcon- [301 Foreign Application priority Data necting with a transversechannel longitudinally A r 4 969 France 69 10448 spaced from each otherand a lateral channel above p the upper transverse channel connects tooutlets for [52] U s 222/4022 discharge. Axial movement of the slidevalve in the [51] In} .Cl .1365! 83/1.4 y is mechanically limited andSuitable p g [58] Fieid 13 402 2 rings are disposed where the slidevalve and body 222/402'2g 5 6 meet. An elastic diaphragm fits over aconvex support forming part of a bell-shaped member having a cham- [56]References Cited her which determines the amount of liquid discharged.

Downward pressure on the bell-shaped member oper- UNITED STATES PATENTSates the valve and release of pressure closes the valve. 2,968,4411/1961. Holcomb 222/4021 3,195,783 7/1965 Crowell 222/402.13 9 Clalmsl 6Drawmg Figures LIQUID DELIVERY VALVE CONSTRUCTION This is a continuationof application Ser. No. 852,698 filed Aug. 25, 1969 now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an arrangement comprising an improvedautomatically closing valve adapted to deliver liquids carried underpressure in a container, and also various applications of such anarrangement chiefly for embodiment in liquid distributing containers andcontainers permitting the ejection of atomized liquid without anyproportioning.

The improved automatically closing valve system of the inventionincludes within a body provided with an inner cylindrical bore adistributing slide valve adapted to occupy two positions: a lowerposition and an upper position, said slide valve being urged outwardlyby the pressure on the liquid and adapted to be depressed against saidpressure upon application of a thrust on its outer end, said slide valvebeing provided at its lower end with means limiting its shifting withinthe body inside which it slides while a transverse channel whichcommunicates permanently with an injection channel opening into theupper section of said slide valve is located between two fluid-tightpackings preferably in the shape of a toroid whereby said transversechannel communicates with the inside of the container when the slidevalve is in its lower position while it is disconnected from the insideof said container when the slide valve is in its upper position.

Said valve system, according to a preferred embodiment, includes asmeans for producing a thrust depressing the slide valve a bell-shapedmember adapted to measure out the amount of liquid to be delivered. Sucha bell-shaped member has already been disclosed in a prior French Pat.No. 1,458,099 filed on Jan. 8, 1965. However, in the present case, theassociation of the above-mentioned valve with the measuring bell-shapedmember ensures in succession the liquid measuring operation and thefilling of a container with liquid under pressure in accordance with thepositions occupied by the slide valve, of which the lower positionprovides for the filling of the measuring bell-shaped member out of thecontainer and for the filling of said container with liquid underpressure while the other, higher position corresponds to the ejection ofthe measured amount of liquid. The distributing slide valve extendingvertically within the body of the distributor includes, in combina tion,in its upper section on the one hand an axial channel leading to theunderside of the diaphragm of the bell-shaped member and a further,transverse channel starting from said axial channel and adapted toregister with the opening in the body of the distributor through whichthe liquid is ejected when the slide valve is in its upper position,while on the other hand the lower section of the distributing bodyincludes channels providing for the access of the liquid under pressureinto the upper axial channel when the slide valve is in its lowerposition.

Furthermore, said improved arrangement is characterized by the fact thatthe diaphragm is stretched over a support having a convex surface sothat, when unexpanded, the diaphragm engages said surface through itsactual tensioning.

According to a modified embodiment, the distributor includes, at theupper end of the distributing slide valve, a pusher knob in which isprovided an atomizing channel forming an extension of the upper axialchannel of said slide valve.

The apparatus includes furthermore a number of other features andadvantages hereinafter described by way of example and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view ofa liquid distributing apparatusequipped with the valve according to the invention, said apparatus beingshown in its inoperative position before use,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar vertical sectional views of said distributingapparatus illustrated respectively in its position for which thedispensing measuring chamber is being filled and in the positioncorresponding to the ejection of the meassured amount of liquid,

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line lV-IV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line VV of 7 FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an atomizing system equipped withsuch an automatically operating valve.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the measuring systemincludes a valve body 4 inside which a distributing slide valve 6 maymove vertically without any possibility of rotation, said slide valvebeing urged upwardly by the pressure on the fluid contained in thecontainer or bottle 40. The system constituted by the body 4 and slidevalve 6 forms an automatically operating valve. To the upper end of theslide valve 6 there is fitted, through the agency of the support 7having a convex surface engaging the diaphragm 8, a measuringbell-shaped member 9. The slide valve 6 is provided in its lower sectionwith an axial channel 23 and in its upper section with an axial channel24, the two channels being separated from each other by a solid section30. On either side of said section 30 there are provided transversechannels 31 and 32 communicating respectively with the axial channels 23and 24. At a given distance above the channel 32 there is provided alateral bore 20 parallel to bore 32 and adapted when the slide valve isin its extreme upper position to connect the channel 24 of the slidevalve with the port 21 in the body of the distributor through which themeasured amount of liquid is expelled. The distributing slide valvecarries fluid-tight packing rings 2 and 3 inserted, respectively, in anannular groove formed between the channels 31 and 32 and in an annulargroove located slightly above the lateral bore 20. Preferably saidfluidtight packings are constituted by rubber rings which are toroidaland particularly effective.

The support 7 for the diaphragm 8 is provided with an axial bore 12formed in alignment with the axial channel 24 so as to ensure aconnection between lastmentioned channel and the lower surface of thediaphragm 8 housed within the measuring bell-shaped member 9.

The lower section of the slide valve 6 includes two lateral projections16 and 17 (FIG. 2) which prevent it from rotating by guiding it withinthe corresponding slots or ports 34 and 35 formed in the lowercylindrical extension of the valve body 4. Said lateral projections 16and I7 abutting against the upper ends of the slots 34 and 35 or againstthe shoulder 36 of the sheath 37 define the two positions of the slidevalve which correspond to the two essential stages of the operation ofthe apparatus, as hereinafter described.

The body 4 of the distributor includes an upper ringshaped portion 42extending downwardly as a cylindrical part enclosing the slide valve.Said body 4 includes in its upper section a scraper ring 5 adapted toprevent any leak of liquid when the slide valve rises.

The cylindrical section of the body of the measuring apparatus is urgedwith a force fit within the sheath 37 which carries a tubular extension38 which is incurved or deformed so that its end may engage the bottomof the container or bottle 40 at a point such as 39 of its innerperiphery registering angularly with the liquid ejector 25. Referencenotches may be provided on the sheath 37 and on the body 4 so as toensure coincidence of their angular setting. Through such an arrangementit is possible with a container of any conventional shape to delivercompletely the liquid contained therein by merely giving a slope to thecontainer towards the side carrying the ejector.

The body of the distributor is secured to the container 40 preferablywith the interposition of the fluidtight packing 41 as provided by acollar 42 the lower edge 43 of which is crimped underneath the neck ofthe container. For an easier assembly it is possible to provide a stud13 (FIG. 2) engaging a corresponding opening (not illustrated) in thecollar or flange 42 and this ensures registration between the opening 45provided in the collar 42 for the passage of the ejector 25 and theejecting lateral bore 20 in the distributor body.

The measuring bell-shaped member 9 secured to the diaphragm support 7 isprovided with ports such as and 11 for the exhaust of the air containedabove the diaphragm or for the entrance of the air within the member 9.The diaphragm is made of an elastic material such as rubber and it hasalong its periphery a securing annulus 44 housed in a correspondinggroove formed in said support 7, said annulus being locked inside saidgroove by the positioning of the bell-shaped member. The arrangementconstituted by the support 7, the diaphragm 8 and the bell-shaped member9 forms a unit which may be removed bodily from the slide valve 6 andfitted over the latter in any suitable manner, for instance by a forcefit as permitted by the comparative elasticity of the plastics formingsaid parts or by any other means such as cooperating threads.

According to the present invention, it is of advantage to give thesurface 29 of the support 7 of the diaphragm a shape which is not flat,but slightly bulging (convex) as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Thus the diaphragm is always subjected to a certain tensioning even whenthe ejection of the measured amount of liquid is at an end which ensuresaccuracy of the amount of liquid ejected and prevents the undesiredformation of a belated drop of liquid at the end of the ejector.

The measuring system thus constituted operates in the following mannerfor the ejection of a measured amount of liquid: the liquid beingcarried under pressure inside the bottle 40, its pressure keeps duringinoperative periods the slide valve, together with the empty measuringbell-shaped member fitted on the latter, in its upper position asillustrated in FIG. 1 while the projections l6 and 17 of thedistributing slide valve abut against the ends of the ports 34, 35; thechannel 32 is separated from the inside of the bottle by the toroidalpacking 2 which prevents the liquid under pressure from reaching thechannel 24.

In order to eject a measured amount of liquid the system constituted bythe measuring bell-shaped member and slidevalve 6 is urged downwardly byhand until said unit occupies the position illustrated in FIG. 2 inwhich the projections 16 and 17 of the slide valve 6 abut against theshoulder 36 of the sheath 37. For this position the ends of the channels31 and 32 are uncovered and interconnected whereas the connection withthe ejection channel 21 is prevented by the toroidal packing 3. Theliquid driven out by its pressure may then follow the path defined bythe arrows along the channels 23, 31, 32, 24, 12 and it fills thebell-shaped member by expanding, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the elasticdiaphragm 8 which engages the inner wall of the bellshaped member 9.

When the operator no longer depresses the measuring bell-shaped member,i.e., when pressure is discontinued, the pressure of the liquid on thelower surface of the slide valve urges the latter upwardly back into theposition illustrated in FIG. 1. The connection is again interruptedbetween the inside of the bottle and the channels 24 and 32 while thechannel 20 in the slide valve registers with the ejecting port 21 in thedistributor body which establishes a connection between the measuredamount of liquid contained underneath the diaphragm and the ejectingtube 25.

The expanded elastic diaphragm 8 then drives the liquid out until saiddiaphragm has returned into contact with the upper surface of thediaphragm support 7. By reason of the bulging convex shape given to saidupper surface the diaphragm retains a certain residual tensioning and isengaged accurately over the latter so that the amount of liquid fedcorresponds accurately to the desired amount of liquid and the drawbackof a small residual amount of liquid in the shape of drops at the outputis avoided. It should be noted that this elimination of any belateddrops is obtained in a still more reliable manner by reason of thespecial shape given in this embodiment to the ejecting tube 25. Itsinner bore 28 terminates in an inner annular ridge 27 within theoutwardly flaring opening 26. It has been found that this particularshape given to the ejector cuts out any dripping phenomena at the end ofthe ejection stage which thus stops in a clean manner.

When the diaphragm 8 resumes its contracted position in contact with thesupport 7, the ejection stage is at an end and the arrangement hasreturned again into its inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 1 andit is ready for a further cycle of operation. It should also be observedthat, by reason of the structure of the distributing slide valve 6 andbody 4, the different operations require only two positions for theslide valve, namely, a lower position and an upper position.

Furthermore the constitution of the movable section formed by twoseparate parts, to wit on the one hand the measuring bell-shaped memberand its support 7 and on the other hand the slide valve 6 providesconsiderable ease for the filling of the container with liquid underpressure as well as for the assembling and dismantling of the apparatus.It allows also a change in the measured amount while retaining the samebottle by replacing the measuring bell-shaped member by another one ofdifferent volumetric capacity; when it is desired to fill the containerthe unit constituted by the bell-shaped member 9, its support 7 and thediaphragm 8 is removed from the slide valve 6 which is then manuallydepressed and held in its lower position illustrated in FIG. 2. Thefilling is then performed through the channels 24, 32, 31, 23. When thefilling is completed the inner pressure urges automatically the slidevalve upwardly into its position illustrated in FIG. 1.

It is thus apparent that the two positions of the distributing slidevalve are sufficient for all operations since the filling of thecontainer is performed for a position of the slide valve which is thesame as that occupied for the filling of the measuring bell-shapedmember out of the container.

For the assembling of the apparatus, the operation is as follows: theslide valve 6 to which the member 9 is not yet secured is urgedslidingly through its lower end into the cylindrical section of the body4 and the latter is then urged downwardly into the sheath 37 which hasbeen provided with itsincurved tube 38. Care should be taken for theaxial plane containing the tube 38 to be set through said operation inthe same axial plane as the ejecting port 21. The collar 42 ispositioned and accurately set angularly through the agency of the stud13. The unit thus assembled is fitted on the container with theinterposition of the packing 41. The edge 43 of the collar or flange 42is then crimped over the neck of the bottle and it is now sufficient toinsert the ejecting tube 25 and measuring bell-shaped member 9.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment describedhereinabove by way of example and in particular the elastic diaphragm 8of the measuring bell-shaped member 9 may be replaced by a piston heldin position against pressure by a spring. Also the shape of the stopsdefining the two positions of the slide valve may be different and it isalso possible to provide on the slide valve 6 above the packing 3a'special nozzle for the filling of the container. These variousmodifications do not alter the chief features of the distributing slidevalve moving between two positions.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the slide valve 6 carries nomeasuring bell-shaped member but only a presser knob 45 through which abore 46 forms an atomizing channel as an extension of the channel 24 inthe upper portion of the slide valve 6. The body 4 need not be providedwith any lateral ejecting port and the port illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3may be eliminated. The channel 24 then communicates only with thetransverse channel 32. The toroidal fluidtight packings 2, 3 and scraperring 5 are held entirely or partly. As in the example illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the body of the valve is provided with a bore throughwhich the slide valve slides longitudinally, which bore is broader inits lower portion. The lateral projections 16 and 17 are also guided inthe ports 34, 35 provided in the lower portion of the body 4.

To produce atomization of the liquid, the knob 45 is depressed againstthe pressure exerted by the liquid which results in bringing the slidevalve into the same lower position as that illustrated in FIG. 2. Theliquid passing through the channels 31, 32, 24, 46 is atomized; theatomization stops as soon as the operator releases the pressure exertedon the knob 45.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic closing slide valve for containers carrying a liquidunder pressure comprising: a valve body for sealing an opening'in thecontainer, and having a transverse liquid discharge channel; anelongated distributor slidably mounted in said valve body for slidingmovement between a lower position in which liquid in said container maybe discharged or said container may be filled through said slide valveand an upper position in which said slide valve prevents escape of saidliquid from said container, said distributor being operable to be urgedoutwardly of the valve body to said upper position by the internalpressure of the container and to be manually depressed against saidinternal pressure by downward pressure on its upper end, saiddistributor having transverse channel means and an axial channelextending through said distributor from the upper end of the distributorto and into said transverse channel means; a longitudinally extendingslideway formed in the valve body and terminating in upper and lowershoulders, and a lateral projection near the lower end of thedistributor extending into said slideway, the lateral projectionengaging said upper and lower shoulders when the distributor is in theupper and lower positions, respectively, thereby to limit thedistributor from sliding beyond said upper and lower positions, saidslideway and said lateral projection cooperatively preventing angularrotation of the distributor as it slides between said upper and lowerpositions; conduit means for establishing communication between saidcontainer and said transverse channel means when the distributor is inthe lower position; sealing means between the distributor and the valvebody and below said transverse channel means for disconnectng saidtransverse channel means from said conduit means when the distributor isin the upper position; said transverse channel means being effective tocommunicate with said liquid discharge channel when the distributor isin the upper position and to be disconnected therefrom when thedistributor is in the lower position; a support member fitted over theupper end of the distributor via an opening therein sized to snugly fitover said upper end, dosemeasuring means on said support member forstoring a predetermined amount of liquid flowing into said measuringmeans through said axial channel when the distributor is in the lowerposition and dispensing means carried by said support member fordispensing through said axial channel, said transverse channel means andsaid liquid discharge channel said predetermined amount of liquid storedin said measuring means when the distributor is in the upper position,said support member being replaceably detached from said upper end beingoperable to carry said measuring means and said dispensing means when sodetached.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the slidevalve detachably carries a member operable when engaged manually todepress the slide valve against the pressure inside the container.

3. Apparatus according to claim ll, wherein said measuring meanscomprises a hollow cap member fitted on the upper end of the supportmember and defining therewith a space of predetermined volume, and aresilient diaphragm fitted on the upper end of the support member andoperable to move between a normal collapsed position and a stretchedposition, in which latter position said diaphragm conforms to the shapeof the cap member and defines a chamber with the upper end of thesupport member having a volume which corresponds to that of said space;said distributor being effective in the lower position to permit liquidunder pressure to flow from the container to the underside of thediaphragm through said conduit means, said transverse channel means, andsaid axial channel and thereby force said collapsed diaphragm to thestretched position, and being effective in the upper position to permitliquid to flow from said chamber underneath said diaphragm to saidliquid discharge channel through said axial channel and said transversechannel means; said diaphragm, when stretched, comprising saiddispensing means for expelling liquid from said chamber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve body extends atits lower end into an incurved dip tube lying in the same plane as saidliquid discharge channel.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slideway forms part ofsaid conduit means, said slideway being arranged to communicate withsaid transverse channel means when the distributor is in the lowerposition.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transverse channel meanscomprises upper and lower transverse channels, the upper transversechannel and said liquid discharge channel being connected when thedistributor is in the upper position and discon nected when thedistributor is in the lower position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said distributor iscylindrical and said sealing means is provided by upper and lowertoroidal sealing rings mounted on said distributor, one sealing ringbeing above said upper transverse channel and the other sealing ringbeing below said lower transverse channel.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a liquid ejectiontube having an inlet end connected to said liquid discharge channel anda broader outlet portion, said ejection tube having an inner borestarting at the inlet end of the ejection tube and terminating in anannular inner ridge projecting into said broader outlet portion.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a metal collar supports saidvalve body for insertion into a container, said metal collar having alateral opening through which said ejection tube projects, a stud isprovided on said valve body and a positioning hole is provided in saidmetal collar for receiving said stud, and said metal collar has meansfor securing the metal collar to the neck ofa container into which saidslide valve is inserted.

1. An automatic closing slide valve for containers carrying a liquidunder pressure comprising: a valve body for sealing an opening in thecontainer, and having a transverse liquid discharge channel; anelongated distributor slidably mounted in said valve body for slidingmovement between a lower position in which liquid in said container maybe discharged or said container may be filled through said slide valveand an upper position in which said slide valve prevents escape of saidliquid from said container, said distributor being operable to be urgedoutwardly of the valve body to said upper position by the internalpressure of the container and to be manually depressed against saidinternal pressure by downward pressure on its upper end, saiddistributor having transverse channel means and an axial channelextending through said distributor from the upper end of the distributorto and into said transverse channel means; a longitudinally extendingslideway formed in the valve body and terminating in upper and lowershoulders, and a lateral projection near the lower end of thedistributor extending into said slideway, the lateral projectionengaging said upper and lower shoulders when the distributor is in theupper and lower positions, respectively, thereby to limit thedistributor from sliding beyond said upper and lower positions, saidslideway and said lateral projection cooperatively preventing angularrotation of the distributor as it slides between Said upper and lowerpositions; conduit means for establishing communication between saidcontainer and said transverse channel means when the distributor is inthe lower position; sealing means between the distributor and the valvebody and below said transverse channel means for disconnectng saidtransverse channel means from said conduit means when the distributor isin the upper position; said transverse channel means being effective tocommunicate with said liquid discharge channel when the distributor isin the upper position and to be disconnected therefrom when thedistributor is in the lower position; a support member fitted over theupper end of the distributor via an opening therein sized to snugly fitover said upper end, dose-measuring means on said support member forstoring a predetermined amount of liquid flowing into said measuringmeans through said axial channel when the distributor is in the lowerposition and dispensing means carried by said support member fordispensing through said axial channel, said transverse channel means andsaid liquid discharge channel said predetermined amount of liquid storedin said measuring means when the distributor is in the upper position,said support member being replaceably detached from said upper end beingoperable to carry said measuring means and said dispensing means when sodetached.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper end ofthe slide valve detachably carries a member operable when engagedmanually to depress the slide valve against the pressure inside thecontainer.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuringmeans comprises a hollow cap member fitted on the upper end of thesupport member and defining therewith a space of predetermined volume,and a resilient diaphragm fitted on the upper end of the support memberand operable to move between a normal collapsed position and a stretchedposition, in which latter position said diaphragm conforms to the shapeof the cap member and defines a chamber with the upper end of thesupport member having a volume which corresponds to that of said space;said distributor being effective in the lower position to permit liquidunder pressure to flow from the container to the underside of thediaphragm through said conduit means, said transverse channel means, andsaid axial channel and thereby force said collapsed diaphragm to thestretched position, and being effective in the upper position to permitliquid to flow from said chamber underneath said diaphragm to saidliquid discharge channel through said axial channel and said transversechannel means; said diaphragm, when stretched, comprising saiddispensing means for expelling liquid from said chamber.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said valve body extends at its lower endinto an incurved dip tube lying in the same plane as said liquiddischarge channel.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidslideway forms part of said conduit means, said slideway being arrangedto communicate with said transverse channel means when the distributoris in the lower position.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid transverse channel means comprises upper and lower transversechannels, the upper transverse channel and said liquid discharge channelbeing connected when the distributor is in the upper position anddisconnected when the distributor is in the lower position.
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein said distributor is cylindrical and saidsealing means is provided by upper and lower toroidal sealing ringsmounted on said distributor, one sealing ring being above said uppertransverse channel and the other sealing ring being below said lowertransverse channel.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further includinga liquid ejection tube having an inlet end connected to said liquiddischarge channel and a broader outlet portion, said ejection tubehaving an inner bore starting at the inlet end of the ejection tuBe andterminating in an annular inner ridge projecting into said broaderoutlet portion.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a metalcollar supports said valve body for insertion into a container, saidmetal collar having a lateral opening through which said ejection tubeprojects, a stud is provided on said valve body and a positioning holeis provided in said metal collar for receiving said stud, and said metalcollar has means for securing the metal collar to the neck of acontainer into which said slide valve is inserted.